Chicago O’Hare Airport and WWII Navy Pilot Butch O’Hare

Formerly “Orchard Field”, Chicago’s International Airport – once the busiest in the world – was renamed after navy pilot Butch O’Hare. O’Hare led one of the most daring air battles in World War Two as he and others fought to preserve the US Aircraft Carrier Lexington from an attack.

A month after this battle, Butch O’Hare led another daring attack against torpedo bombers. During this operation O’Hare’s plane disappeared and Butch O’Hare was never found.

In honor of his valor in the defense of America during World War Two, Butch O’Hare’s name will never be forgotten, though only a small percentage of the millions who travel through this US Airport portal every year know the real story behind the name.